Which place is cheaper, San Antonio or New Orleans?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between New Orleans and San Antonio can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
New Orleans is a fun-filled, festive, and vibrant city. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. This is a quaint and attractive place to visit, too. It's also known for nightlife, live music, and food.
San Antonio is a historic, cultural, and colorful city. It's a gorgeous place to visit. Other reasons to visit include nightlife, live music, and food.
Travelers will generally find more things to do in New Orleans than San Antonio. While San Antonio is larger than New Orleans, New Orleans has more sights and attractions for tourists. New Orleans is more popular for its food, nightlife, music, historical sights, big city activities, and quaint atmosphere, while San Antonio is known for its museums, shopping, and impressive beauty. New Orleans is more touristy than San Antonio and is popular for its jazz festivals, local cuisine, quaint balconies, and world class Mardi Gras parties. It is also home to The French Quarter. San Antonio is popular for being the home to the Alamo, the popular RiverWalk area, and several world-class amusement parks.
Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between San Antonio and New Orleans. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.
San Antonio is an excellent place to visit for its museums and history. However, New Orleans does not have museums and landmarks.
You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into San Antonio. It is known for its role in American history, and the city is famous as the location of the Alamo. It's also where you'll find the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park & Mission Trail, the San Antonio Museum of Art, Witte Museum, and the Guinness World Records Museum, among others.
New Orleans does not have museums and landmarks.
New Orleans is an unbeatable place for its restaurant scene. Also, San Antonio is still popular, but not quite as popular for its local flavors and cuisine.
Eat your way through New Orleans, as it has many local or world renowned restaurants to choose from. It has rapidly grown into one of the United State's most well known foodie destinations. It's the birthplace of bananas foster and popular for it's gumbo, crawfish etouffee, jambalaya, and red beans and rice. While there are a number of celebrity chefs from New Orleans, you'll also find many local restaurants that aren't as well known but are equally worth visiting.
San Antonio has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. You'll find a mix of amazing and authentic Mexican food, simpler Tex Mex, and a number of Hill Country specialties. The city is filled with comfort food and the restaurants reflect the diverse character of the population. Popular local dishes include tacos, sweet potato fries, and chicken fried steak.
New Orleans is an unbeatable place for nightlife. Also, San Antonio is still popular, but not quite as popular for nightlife and partying.
The nightlife in New Orleans is well established with world renowned clubs and venues. The nightlife scene is at its best during Mardi Gras. But year-round you'll find Bachelor and Bachelorette parties, spring breakers, and anyone who wants to enjoy a crazy time heads to New Orleans. New Orleans is a destination that attracts partiers any time of the year, and the French Quarter is the place to be if you're looking for a party.
If you're looking for night time activities San Antonio has a few options to choose from. The city's nightlife scene is diverse, with dance halls, breweries, and clubs. It has seen a recent boom in dance clubs, so there are plenty of places to party hard, or to have a more relaxing night out. The RiverWalk is at the heart of the city's nightlife scene, particularly for tourists. Many conferences stay at hotels near the RiverWalk, so it's not uncommon to see professionals out and about after a day of networking.
New Orleans is an unbeatable place for live music. Also, San Antonio is still popular, but not quite as popular for its live music scene.
New Orleans is a world class music destination. The city is known for its music festivals that feature jazz, blues, and many other types of live music. The Jazz Festival is a great time to visit.
The music scene in San Antonio is active and vibrant. It's worth checking out The Aztec Theater, Sam's Burger Joint, and 502 Bar.
New Orleans is a great destination for its historic old town. Also, San Antonio is still popular, but not quite as popular for its old town.
There are many historical things to see in the old town of New Orleans. The French Quarter is filled with old architecture and beautiful historic landmarks.
Plenty of visitors enjoy exploring the old town in San Antonio. The city is famous for its River Walk, which may feel slightly cheesy, but is still a unique and mesmerizing place to wander.
San Antonio is a city with good options for shopping. However, New Orleans is lacking in options for its shopping opportunities.
Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in San Antonio. From souvenir shops to local boutiques and chain stores, there are several shopping options around town. Check out the historic Market Square or the shops at Rivercenter for some of the city's most interesting shopping.
If you're looking to go shopping, New Orleans has some nice offerings. New Orleans shopping is mostly centered around shopping malls and chain stores.
San Antonio is a city with good options for its Christmas holiday experiences. However, New Orleans does not offer Christmas activities.
Plenty of visitors enjoy Christmas activities while in San Antonio. It's fun to see the lights along the River Walk at Christmas.
New Orleans does not offer Christmas activities.
San Antonio is a world-class destination for its kid-friendly activities. However, New Orleans is lacking in options for its family-friendly activities.
San Antonio is an extremely popular city to visit for families. The RiverWalk is a fun family-friendly area. There's also Six Flags, SeaWorld and the San Antonio Zoo as well as a number of museums and other amusement parks in the area. It's easy to spend days having a great family vacation in this area and you can combine history, culture, and entertainment all in one setting.
New Orleans doesn't usually come to mind when thinking about kid-friendly destinations. While there are some family-friendly activities in New Orleans like a zoo and several great parks, the city is more known for its parties and nightlife scene. Particularly during certain seasons, most people choose to visit New Orleans without kids.
Both New Orleans and San Antonio are good destinations for a couple's getaway.
New Orleans is a nice destination for couples. Couples who enjoy a lively evening, fun festivals, and exploring absolutely amazing restaurants will enjoy a visit to New Orleans. It has a festive and unique atmosphere any time of the year. There are also nice hotels and beautiful parks.
San Antonio makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Couples will enjoy taking a boat ride and exploring the many sites around town. The RiverWalk has many restaurants and a great atmosphere for a date night. There's also the botanical gardens and many outdoor spaces to explore.
Both New Orleans and San Antonio are good destinations for students.
Plenty of students visit New Orleans. Students head to New Orleans to enjoy spring break and Mardi Gras.
San Antonio is popular with students. There are a couple of colleges in the area. This is also a major conference destination so it's possible to network and meet other professionals.
Visitors will find decent public transit in both New Orleans and San Antonio.
Public transit is mostly limited in New Orleans. The city has streetcar lines and bus lines that you can use, but you'll want to have a car if you want to venture outside of these main areas.
Public transit is generally limited in San Antonio. Buses connect most of the city's tourist attractions, but you'll find life much easier if you have your own car.
New Orleans is a good destination for its walkability. However, San Antonio is a city with minimal options for its high level of walkability.
New Orleans is somewhat walkable. If you stick to the French Quarter and downtown areas, most things are walkable in New Orleans.
San Antonio is generally not a very walkable city. If you stick to the downtown area you will be fine getting around on foot. Outside of that area, you'll need a car.
For even more information, also check out Is New Orleans Worth Visiting? and Is San Antonio Worth Visiting?.
Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both New Orleans and San Antonio. In our opinion, New Orleans has more to see and do, so we recommend that you spend more time in New Orleans than San Antonio. However, 2-3 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.
Families should spend more time in San Antonio than New Orleans. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in San Antonio, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.
Couples should spend more time in New Orleans than San Antonio. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in New Orleans that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.
Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in New Orleans than San Antonio if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in New Orleans.
Visitors enjoy the nightlife and live music when visiting the fun-filled city of New Orleans. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.
Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the festive city of San Antonio. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.
Visitors enjoy the live music and food when visiting the vibrant destination of New Orleans. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. This city offers something for everyone. Plenty of people spend a weekend in the area when traveling. If you enjoy all that's offered here, then a weekend is just the right amount of time to spend here.
Visitors enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the colorful destination of San Antonio. This city offers something for everyone. Plenty of people spend a weekend in the area when traveling. If you enjoy all that's offered here, then a weekend is just the right amount of time to spend here.
The fun-filled city of New Orleans offers food and nightlife. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel.
The historic city of San Antonio offers museums and nightlife. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel.
Many people enjoy the nightlife and live music when visiting New Orleans. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.
Many people enjoy the nightlife and live music when visiting San Antonio. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in New Orleans is $239, while the average daily cost in San Antonio is $132. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for New Orleans and San Antonio in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in New Orleans or San Antonio? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Some typical examples of transportation costs in New Orleans are as follows:
Also for New Orleans, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Some typical examples of transportation costs in San Antonio are as follows:
Some specific examples of transportation prices in San Antonio:
Prices for flights to both San Antonio and New Orleans change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
For New Orleans, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in San Antonio.
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for New Orleans's activities, tours, and tickets:
For New Orleans, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
Here are a few typical costs in San Antonio for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
Here are a few actual costs in San Antonio for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in New Orleans:
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in San Antonio:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between New Orleans and San Antonio, we can see that New Orleans is more expensive. And not only is San Antonio much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to San Antonio would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in San Antonio and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in New Orleans would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in New Orleans than you might in San Antonio.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is New Orleans Expensive? and Is San Antonio Expensive?.
San Antonio has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of New Orleans. When comparing the sizes of New Orleans and San Antonio, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Both San Antonio and New Orleans during the summer are popular places to visit. The city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to New Orleans this time of year. Also, many travelers come to San Antonio for the music scene and the family-friendly experiences.
New Orleans is around the same temperature as San Antonio in the summer. The daily temperature in New Orleans averages around 82°F (28°C) in July, and San Antonio fluctuates around 87°F (31°C).
In San Antonio, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in New Orleans. In the summer, New Orleans often gets less sunshine than San Antonio. New Orleans gets 264 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Antonio receives 307 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in New Orleans. New Orleans usually gets more rain in July than San Antonio. New Orleans gets 5.9 inches (149 mm) of rain, while San Antonio receives 2.2 inches (57 mm) of rain this time of the year.
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both New Orleans and San Antonio. Many travelers come to New Orleans for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene. Also, many visitors come to San Antonio in the autumn for the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In the autumn, New Orleans is cooler than San Antonio. Typically, the autumn temperatures in New Orleans in October average around 69°F (21°C), and San Antonio averages at about 73°F (23°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in San Antonio this time of the year. In New Orleans, it's very sunny this time of the year. New Orleans usually receives more sunshine than San Antonio during autumn. New Orleans gets 240 hours of sunny skies, while San Antonio receives 213 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, New Orleans usually receives around the same amount of rain as San Antonio. New Orleans gets 3 inches (77 mm) of rain, while San Antonio receives 3.3 inches (83 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
The winter brings many poeple to New Orleans as well as San Antonio. Many visitors come to New Orleans in the winter for the shopping scene and the cuisine. Also, most visitors come to San Antonio for the museums, the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.
In January, New Orleans is generally cooler than San Antonio. Daily temperatures in New Orleans average around 51°F (11°C), and San Antonio fluctuates around 54°F (12°C).
In the winter, New Orleans often gets around the same amount of sunshine as San Antonio. New Orleans gets 158 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Antonio receives 155 hours of full sun.
New Orleans receives a lot of rain in the winter. New Orleans usually gets more rain in January than San Antonio. New Orleans gets 5.2 inches (131 mm) of rain, while San Antonio receives 1.8 inches (45 mm) of rain this time of the year.
Both San Antonio and New Orleans are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to New Orleans for the activities around the city during these months. Also, the spring months attract visitors to San Antonio because of the natural beauty.
New Orleans is cooler than San Antonio in the spring. The daily temperature in New Orleans averages around 68°F (20°C) in April, and San Antonio fluctuates around 74°F (23°C).
It's quite sunny in San Antonio. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in New Orleans. New Orleans usually receives more sunshine than San Antonio during spring. New Orleans gets 254 hours of sunny skies, while San Antonio receives 216 hours of full sun in the spring.
It's quite rainy in New Orleans. In April, New Orleans usually receives more rain than San Antonio. New Orleans gets 4.5 inches (114 mm) of rain, while San Antonio receives 2.4 inches (60 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
New Orleans | San Antonio | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 51°F (11°C) | 5.2 inches (131 mm) | 54°F (12°C) | 1.8 inches (45 mm) |
Feb | 54°F (12°C) | 5.8 inches (147 mm) | 57°F (14°C) | 1.8 inches (45 mm) |
Mar | 62°F (16°C) | 5 inches (126 mm) | 65°F (18°C) | 1.7 inches (42 mm) |
Apr | 68°F (20°C) | 4.5 inches (114 mm) | 74°F (23°C) | 2.4 inches (60 mm) |
May | 75°F (24°C) | 4.3 inches (110 mm) | 79°F (26°C) | 4.4 inches (111 mm) |
Jun | 80°F (27°C) | 5.9 inches (151 mm) | 84°F (29°C) | 3.7 inches (94 mm) |
Jul | 82°F (28°C) | 5.9 inches (149 mm) | 87°F (31°C) | 2.2 inches (57 mm) |
Aug | 82°F (28°C) | 6.2 inches (157 mm) | 87°F (31°C) | 2.6 inches (66 mm) |
Sep | 78°F (26°C) | 5.5 inches (140 mm) | 82°F (28°C) | 3.6 inches (91 mm) |
Oct | 69°F (21°C) | 3 inches (77 mm) | 73°F (23°C) | 3.3 inches (83 mm) |
Nov | 61°F (16°C) | 4.8 inches (122 mm) | 64°F (18°C) | 2.6 inches (66 mm) |
Dec | 55°F (13°C) | 5.7 inches (146 mm) | 56°F (13°C) | 1.6 inches (40 mm) |